The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-07
CATHERINE l. WOLFE.
Death OF Woman Noted for Her
Wealth and Her Charity.

Miss Catherine L. Wolfe, alike celebrated
for great riches and boundless charity, died
at her New York home Monday She was
reported as being critically i'll some three or
four months ago, but she recovered and was
apparently so much better that preparations
were made for her to occupy her Newport
cottage during the coming season. Miss
Wolfe was born in New York city about fif-
ty-eight years ago, being the eldest daughter
OF John David Wolfe, one of the old time
merchants of New York. He wasa member
of the hardware firm of Wolfe & Bishop. Her
mother was daughter of Peter Lorillard.
the elder. GATHERINGS youngest sister, Ma
ry, was married to the late William b. Hoff-
man and died in 1866. Her father diving in
1872, left to her his entire wealth estimated
at abOu $7,C00,C00 She was one of those
who regard wealth as trust to be expended
for the good of others, and has spent much
OF her time since coming into her fortune in
deylslng worthy expenditures for her vast
income. Almost her sole occupation has
been relieving the needy and helping worthy
objects. She disliked to have her benefac-
tions published to the world, and yet it is
well known that she relieved the wants of
literally thousands. Among her many bene-
factions are the following Grace House, con-
tanning reading and lecture rooms for tile
poor; memorial window to her father, John
David Wolfe,, in Grace Church; marble
reredos and chantry in Grace Church, ST.
Luke's Hospital, $4,000; Home for Incura-
bles, $4,000; Italian Mission Church, in Null
berry street, $4,000; tenement house in Null
berry, $4,000; newsboys' lodging house,
(probably) $45, coo; clergy house for diocese
of New York, No. 20 Lafayette place, $170,-
coo; Virginia Seminary, $4,000; Union Col
lege, Schenectady, 100000; st. Johnsland
School, Long Island, $4,000; American
Church at Rome, $4,000; American school
at Athens, $20,C00; schools and churches in
Minnesota, Georgia, Kansas, California, Col
orado and Nevada; schools in Iowa, $780,
600; to home and foreign missions, 500, 900;
chair of English literature and belles-ettres
at GriswOid College, Iowa, $4,000. Besides
these, there are many minor charities. 1t is
is probably safe to say that her public chari-
ties amount to over 100000. Her house at
fourth street, fronting Madison square, con-
tains one of the choicest collections of paint
ings in the city. 1t is valued at about ST.
O00,OCO and includes the Holy Family" by
Knaus; 'Monte Piete," by Munkacsy; Cat
tie Scene," by Rosa Bonheur; ",rhe Chris
tian Martyr" by Gabriel Max; ''Horseman, :"
by Messonier; Turkish Dancing Girl" by
Cabanel: an interior, by Meyer Won Bre-
men: portrait of herself, by Cabanel I;
ARAB Horseman," by Fromentin; "Cattle
Group" by Troyon land5seeape' . 5ep' py Gorot, and
Standing her great expenditures her fortune
has increased rather than diminished, and it
is estimated that she leaves an estate OF Sl0,-
100000. Her Newport residence was one Of
the handsomest and most costly IN that city,
1t is said that her father nad maoe VIII be
oueathing a portion of his great fortune to
| charitrble purposes, but that shortly before
| his death he destroyed it, believing that his
millions would be more Judiclously employed
by her than they could be by any testament
tary bequest